Device fob automatically stopping



Dec. 25, 1951 DEWHIRST 2,580,080

' DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY STOPPING MOTOR VEHICLE ENGINES AFTERPREDETERMINED IDLING PERIOD Filed Dec. 18, 1950 IGNIT'ION 5Y5 TamZSnventor attorneg Patented Dec. 25, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEDEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY STOPPING MOTOR VEHICLE ENGINES AFTER PREDE-TERMINED IDLING PERIOD Joseph F. Dewhirst, Bridgeport, Conn.ApplicationDecember 18, 1950, Serial No. 201,391,

6 Claims.

' The present invention relates to a device forthe continued operationof an engine if it is left running unintentionally,- or in the case ofdelivery trucks and the like, if the delivery man leaves the enginerunning for a relatively long period while making a delivery. Thus inthe case of a milk truck the timer means employed as a part of thedevice can be set so that it will not stop the' engine during normaldoor-to-door delivery periods requiring the stoppage of the truck foronly a minute or so, but will stop the engine if the milkman is delayedfor an unusually long period, say four minutes or more.

In addition to preventing needless idling of the engine with aconsequent saving in gas and oil as well as wear and detriment to theengine and associated battery and other operating parts fromoverheating, low oil pressure, etc., the invention also has for anobject the protection of the lubrieating system of the engine, stoppingoperation of the engine in the event that the oil is insufiicient forthe proper running of the engine, or,

when there is inadequate or faulty oil pressure due to oil leaks, oilblocks or other causes. To this endit is proposed to provide anautomatic device for breaking the ignition circuit and shutting off theengine after a predetermined period when the engine is idling and theoil pressure is at a predetermined low pressure, or in the case of theengine running at normal speeds when the oil pres,- sure is below normaldue to inadequate or faulty lubrication.

With the above and other objects in view an embodiment of the inventionis shown in the acmmpanying drawing, and this embodiment will behereinafter more fully described with reference thereto, and theinvention will be finally pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings: 1

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the device, partially broken away andpartially in vertical section, and

showing schematically the electrical connections with the starter andignition system of the automobile engine.

Fig. 2 is a vertical. sectional view taken along the line 2- -2 of Fig.1.'

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings the main control parts of the device arecontained in a box H), of generally rectangular form and preferablyconstructed of metal, provided with a cover I I hinged at l2 andprovided with a hasp [3 adapted to be secured by a suitable seal I4,so'that the operating parts of the device cannot be tampered with torender them inoperative without first breaking the seal.

Upon one wall of the container there is mounted an oil pressure operatedunit I 5, shown in the form of a bellows 16 having a plunger H at oneend adapted to be projected when a predetermined oil pressure existswithin the bellows, the bellows being normally retained in its retractedposition by a spring l8. The bellows is provided with a threaded stud l9engaged through a hole 20 in the wall of the container and securedtherein by a nut 2|, the stud having connected thereto the end of an oilpressure supply pipe 22 con nected by a union 23 at a suitable point inthe oil line of the engine, shown in the illustrated embodiment of theinvention as the tube 24 connected to the oil filter 25. Within the oilline 22 there is provided a pressure regulator '26 adapted to beadjusted so as to reduce whatever idling oil pressure exists in aparticular engine to the requirements of the bellows, thus making thedevice adaptable to widely different conditions. Thus if the bellows isadaptedv to operate at pressures in excess ofi6 lbs. the regulator maybe adjusted so as to deliver 6 lbs. pressure to the bellows when the oilpressure is either above or below. this amount. Thus the device may beadapted for use with an engine where the idling oil pressure may be asmuch as 15 lbs. as well as to an engine where the idling pressure is aslow as 3 or 4 lbs.

Within the container there is also mounted a timer switch unit 2] havinga pivoted reset arm 28 ands. switch 29, the timer mechanism being suchthat in the normal position of the arm shown in full lines the switch isopen, and in the reset position shown in dotted lines the switch isclosed, and remains closed as the arm moves back to the full lineposition at which time the switch opens automatically. The timer ispreferably adjustable so that the timing period required for themovement of the arm from its reset to its normal position may be variedas desired. Timer devices of this type are well known being used onautomatic washers, toasters, industrial ap- For the purpose or"operating the timer-by means of the oil pressure unit there is-provio'eda lever 39 pivotally mounted-upon apost 3i and provided at its lower endwith a roller 32 engaging one side of the reset lever' zfl the lever 36being connected to the plunger i? by a rod 33 screwed at one end-withinthe plunger and pivotally connected at its other end to th e lever by apin 34 engaging a slot 35 inthe lever. Thus when the oil pressure isreduced during idling of the engine, or for other reasons, the bellowsis retracted'and the timer is in its normal switch opening position asshownin full lines. iAny increase in'the speed of the engine, such asputting a truck in motion is normally sunicient 'tocause considerableincrease in'the oil pressure and thus "cause the bellows to be"projected and the timer to befreset, thus closing the timer switch whichis suitably connected" in the ignition system so that the ignitionsystem is complete whenthe timer switch is closed, allowing the engineto run, andis broken when the timer switch is open,, thus stopping theengine.

'The connection with the ignition system is 'shown'schematically in Fig.l, and consists of a lead36 extending from one side of the timer set thetimer, so that during normal operation of the vehicle the oil pressureactuated means will take over the automatic operation of the device tokeep the engine running. Whenever the engine is allowed to idle for thepredetermined period for which the timer is set, or in the eventthatthere isv insufi'icient or faulty lubrication, thetimer-Willautomaticallyshut' off the engine.

It will be understood that instead of the oil pressure actuated bellows,other well known "means capable of converting changes in oil pressur'eto' mechanical motion may be employed. It is also pointed -out thatthe electrical circuits switch 29 to one side of the key-operatedignition switch 3'1, the other side of which is connected by a lead'38to the battery 39. which isgrounded in the usual manner, as at 46. Theother side of the timer'switch is connected by a lead H to the coil 42'of the ignition system of the engine which system is grounded in theusual manner as atfta.

In order to close the ignition system upon "starting the engine, andbefore'the oil'press'ure of the engine is raised to the point where itwill take over the automatic operation of the device,

a solenoid 44 is provided in the boxlil and has its core 45 connected bya link 46 to the reset lever 28, The solenoid is connected at one sideby a lead 41 to the startercircuit and is" grounded at" its other sideas at 48. The lead 41 is connected to the first contact of athree-contact i starter button or switch 49, a lead 5%! extending "fromthe secondcontact to one side of the starter 5| which isgrounded' at'itsother side as at 52. The starter circuit is completed to the battery 39by a lead 53 extending from the third contact of the starter button tothe battery. fTh'us when the starter buttonis pressed to rep-ems thestarter, the solenoid is simultaneously energized to pull the resetlever into its dotted line position to close the timer switchand'thusclose"the' 'cir cuit of theignition'system,"theignition'switchti havingpreviouslyfbeen closed-asa preliminary "to the starting operation.

After the engine is started it will run at idling "speed for'the'predeternriined period'fo'i' whicHthe timer is set, and will'be'automatically'shutofi if it is allowed to idleibeyondthepredeterminedset period. Any accelerationoftheengine however will produce an increase'inthej oil pressure and will therefore "operatethe" plunger" l l "toremay include relays, transformers and other suitable elements inaccordance with well known electrical engineering practice. Thethree-contact --switcl 1' 4-9-may, if desired, be of a type to allow forresetting the timer independently of the starter. I have illustrated anddescribed a preferred and satisfactory embodiment of the invention butit will'be understood that changes maybe'made therein, within the spiritand. scope 'th'ereoffas defined in the appendedclaims.

What I claim is:

1'. Anidling period control device for an engine having means to controlthe stopping'of the engine and an'oil pressure lubricatin'gfsys- 'tem,comprising oil pressureactuated means adapted to be connected to the oilpressurei'lubricating system and movable between relatively low and highoil'pressure positions,"timer means having a predetermined operatingperiod and includingreset means arranged to be a'ctuated to resetposition by movement of said'oil pressure-actuated means intohigh oilpressure position, and means adaptedflto be operatively connected tosaid control means to stop the engine at the end of said operatingperiod of said timer means.

2-. .Anidling period control device ior'a'n engine having means 'tocontrol the stoppingof the engine, and an oil pressure lubricatingsystem, comprising oil pressure actuated means adapted to be connectedto the oil'pressure lubricating system and movable between relativelylow and high oilpre's'sure positions, timer means having. apredetermined operatingpe'riod and including reset ineans'arra'nged tobe actuated to reset position by movement of said'oil pressure. actuatedmeansinto high oil pressure posison," and means adapted tobe'operatiyeIyconnected tosaid control means to stop the engine at the end of saidoperating period of said timer means, and means arranged to actuate saidreset means independently of said oil .pressure actuated means.

3. An idling period control device for an engine having -means tocontrol the stopping of the engine, an oil pressure lubricating system,

and an electrical starter circuit, comprising-oil pressure actuatedmeans adapted to be connected to the oil pressure lubricating system andmovable between relatively low and high oil'pressurepositions, timermeans-having a predetermined operatingperiod and including'reset' meansarranged to be actuated to reset position' -by movement of said oilpressureactuatedmeans into high oil'pre-ssure position; and meansadapted to be operatively connected to'said control means Stop theengine at'theendof' said operating period of said timer means, and asolenoid arranged to actuate said reset means independently of said oilpressure actuated imeans and adapted to be connected to said electricalstarter circuit for actuation through closing of said starter circuit.

4. An idling period control device for an engine having an electricalcircuit to control the stopping of the engine, and an oil pressurelubricating system, comprising oil pressure actuated means adapted to beconnected to the oil pressure lubricating system and movable betweenrelatively low and high oil pressure positions, timer means having apredetermined operating period and including reset means arranged to beactuated to reset position by movement of said oil pressure actuatedmeans into high oil pressure position, and a switch adapted to be closedduring said operating period and to be opened at the end of said period,said switch adapted to be interposed in said electrical con trol circuitto stop the engine upon opening of said switch. 7

5. An idling period control device for an engine having an electricalcircuit to control the stopping of the engine, and an oil pressurelubricating system, comprising oil pressure actuated means adapted to beconnected to the oil pressure lubricating system and movable betweenrelatively low and high oil pressure positions, timer means having apredetermined operating period and including reset means arranged to beactuated to reset position by movement of said oil pressure actuatedmeans into high oil pressure position and a switch adapted to be closedduring said operating period and to be opened at the end of said period,said switch adapted to be interposed in said electrical con- 6 trolcircuit to stop the engine upon opening of said switch, and meansarranged to actuate said reset means independently of said oil pressureactuated means.

6. An idling period controldevice for an engine having an electricalcircuit to control the stopping of the engine, an oil pressurelubricating system, and an electrical starter circuit, comprising oilpressure actuated means adapted to be connected to the oil pressurelubricating system and movable between relatively low and high oilpressure positions, timer means having a predetermined operating periodand including reset means arranged to be actuated to reset position bymovement of said oil pressure actuated means into high oil pressureposition and a switch adapted to be closed during said operating periodand to be opened at the end of said period, said switch adapted to beinterposed in said electrical control circuit to stop the engine uponopening of said switch, and a solenoid arranged to actuate said resetmeans independently of said oil pressure actuated means and adapted tobe connected to said electrical starter circuit for actuation throughclosing of said starter circuit.

JOSEPH F. DEWHIRST.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Ellis Dec. 3, 1929Number

